Age limits planned for sex education

CLEAR age limits on the teaching of sex education aim to ensure children are not "exposed to too much too soon", the Government said, as it published new proposals on the topic.

Draft statutory guidance states that sex education should be taught no earlier than Year Five, when pupils are aged nine, and that what is described as the "contested topic of gender identity" should not be taught at all.

The guidance, which is subject to a nineweek consultation ending on July 11, was leaked earlier this week but published in full yesterday.

The draft revised guidance on relationships, sex and health education has been compiled following concerns children were being exposed to "inappropriate" content.